Make NetBox-like dialog for VFS messages instead of overwriting TUI elements

[zyv]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Midnight Commander version and build configuration

Desktop % mc -V
GNU Midnight Commander 4.8.33
Built with GLib 2.82.4
Built with S-Lang 2.3.3 with terminfo database
Built with libssh2 1.11.1
With builtin editor
With subshell support as default
With support for background operations
With mouse support on xterm
With internationalisation support
With multiple codepages support
Virtual File Systems:
 cpiofs, tarfs, sfs, extfs, ftpfs, sftpfs, shell
Data types:
 char: 8; int: 32; long: 64; void *: 64; size_t: 64; off_t: 64; uintmax_t: 64;

Operating system

Desktop % uname -a
Darwin Mac 24.5.0 Darwin Kernel Version 24.5.0: Tue Apr 22 19:54:29 PDT 2025; root:xnu-11417.121.6~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T6030 arm64

Is this issue reproducible using the latest version of Midnight Commander?

• I confirm the issue is still reproducible with the latest version of Midnight Commander

How to reproduce

Connect using the "Left -> Shell link..." menu and observe the messages.

Expected behavior

If I remember correctly, the messages used to be printed one line above the command line.

Actual behavior

Now, the messages are overwriting the pull-down menu bar at the top:

Additional context

I'm not sure if this was an intentional change. Printing them in the command line might not be the best idea, but I think the old behavior, where they were printed one line above, was less confusing.

Update: This behavior hasn't changed. VFS prints messages either over the hint bar if it is enabled or at the top. I disabled the hint bar, which is why the messages are now printed at the top and overwrite the menu.

One possible solution is to introduce a modal dialog for VFS messages, similar to the one in FAR's NetBox plugin:

[aborodin]

If I remember correctly, the messages used to be printed one line above the command line.

Never. See vfs_print_message() and print_vfs_message().

the old behavior, where they were printed one line above, was less confusing

One line above command line is a hint bar. I always have it switched off, menu bar is switched off too.

[zyv]

One line above command line is a hint bar. I always have it switched off, menu bar is switched off too.

I understand. Thank you! I always kept the hint bar on, but I switched it off some time ago. Now, the messages have moved to the top. This is what happened.

So, what do you think? Shall we close this as wontfix, or is there a better way? Overwriting the menu bar and/or the upper frame isn't ideal. Would overwriting the command line be any better?

[ossilator]

to me the current solution looks like a command-line-y thing being shoehorned into a TUI. the proper GUI thing would be to temporarily pop up a modal dialog showing the progress. this should also make it clearer how to cancel the thing.

[zyv]

to me the current solution looks like a command-line-y thing being shoehorned into a TUI. the proper GUI thing would be to temporarily pop up a modal dialog showing the progress. this should also make it clearer how to cancel the thing.

You are right. I rewrote the issue as a feature request instead of a bug report. It would be great to have something like FAR's NetBox feature, which can be used in various places (shell link, FTP, SFTP).